Part Two: Anxiety

Chapter 9: Day 11

Rainbow wasn't sure how to make out of Prince Turtle. Ever since the day of his interaction with Prince Fin, Prince Turtle never seem to recover from that. Torn away from much need companionship. He resigned himself to wallow in the depth of loneliness.

But Rainbow was not without an attempt. She tried to pull the little prince out of that hole by prompting a question about his favourite scroll, past-time activities, and even his favourite food. But the only response he gave was mindless floating. Weightlessness against pull and push of the current.

Time after time, she would catch a glimpse of him flashing something like 'worthless', 'useless', and 'hero', as if he was scolding to himself of something. Something which she couldn't make sense of.

Still, Rainbow chose to stay close to him. Cleaning the decorative and hallway while trying to follow him. Though, she would admit, it wasn't hard to follow a jellyfish-like SeaWing across the hallway. She still had to stay discreetly as not to raise suspicious from the other servants and royalties.

Oh, Prince Turtle. Was there anyway he could be make him happy again? She had been thinking aside while her body doing cleaning duty all these days. But it just seem so hopeless to her.

Until later in the day, someone else did it for her.

"Prince Turtle."

Rainbow almost spun herself in circle by shock of seeing another one uttered the name-not-be-spoken-of.

At the hallway, a dull green dragon was standing some distance in front of the little prince. One of his ear has a large gold hoop while he dark ink stain around his talons. He intercepted floating path of Prince Turtle. But he did not seem to give any acknowledge to the green SeaWing. His body, having a mind of its own, floating ever slowly towards the dragon. Even his head poke against the green SeaWing's chest did nothing for the little prince.

The green SeaWing's intense flashes finally got his attention.

"Whirlpool?" flashed the little prince.

"I don't care whether you wanted to be a kelp or a seaweed, little prince." Whirlpool furrowed his muzzle. "My time is precious. I have things to do and places to go. However, I have something announce to you."

Whether or not Prince Turtle gave any response, she did not know. But Rainbow do know that she would like to slap that green dragon in the face for being such disrespect.

"As any dragonet that reach of age of two, they shall attend the Talon of Power ceremony. You are to be expected there."

"Talon of Power?" Prince Turtle flashed aloud her question.

"Yes. Have you not learnt that from your tutor? Good gracious. How our standard of education had deteriorated just over these past years." Whirlpool shook his head. "Talon of power ceremony is where the dragonets are to be tested. To see whether they inherited the long-lost power. In these times of war, our kingdom would finally have a way to end the war. Once and for all."

What 'Power'? So strong that it can end the war? Was it the 'Talon of Power'?

Rainbow scratched her head but judging the reaction on Prince Turtle's shocking expression and the widening eyes, he knew. The little prince was trying to suppress his light and yet, his scales still let loose a sudden burst of lights through them.

She might have expected the little prince to have a reaction or two from the little prince. But she wasn't expected that.

"But-t, I'm not age of two yet." He replied.

"Ah, but you would be this year. Which meant we are expecting you there, little prince." He spun around and flashed. "Less than two weeks until the ceremony. Your brothers will be there too."

Before he swam, he stole a glance at Rainbow but not of a friendly one. Then he was gone. Down to the hallway where he came. Leaving the Prince Turtle standing there, dazed from the news.

"Prince Turtle? Are you okay?"

Rainbow swam to his side and shook him gently. No response. He didn't even flinch when she tried to wave a talon right in front of his eyes. Those eyes were not the eyes of excitement, nor of joy. His pupil went so large that she could see, what must be, fear and despair in them.

"Prince?"

Without a word, he shot himself down the hallway. She tried to stopped him but he had already turned the corner and disappeared from her sight.

Something must had triggered the little prince. But what? All she knew was that ceremony so-called the 'Talons of Power'. What was it? Why did it make him so nervous?

On the other hand, there was that green SeaWing. Whirlpool. The one she last saw arguing with the SeaWing commander. She vaguely remembered that he was the Ministry of Magic. Or was it the publishing?

Magic. Power. Could it be the Animus magic? Whirlpool once mention something regarding animus magic too, didn't he?

A flash of scales caught her attention and she whirled around.

"Excuse me. Are you the servant who has been taking care of my 'exiled' brother?"

A blue navy SeaWing with burly muscle standing there staring into her. His neck hang a necklace that was made of five thin narwhals horn strung together. With his scales glow impatiently, she saw the unmistakable pattern of spirals and starbursts. One belongs to the royalties.

"Prince Hammerhead! How can I be any of your services?" She said.

"By answering the previous question of course." He tapped on his talons as a response.

"Yes. I am." He didn't say anything, so she quickly added. "My name is Rainbow."

"Rainbow. I had heard something of you. The care-taking servant. Apparently Turtle seems to be little fond of you. Anything that my little brother need, you brought forth to him."

"Not everything." Rainbow replied.

At least, he's not accepting my constant cheering and support. She thought.

The prince raise an eyebrow before saying.

"Maybe. But rumour has it that you were doing more than just providing his needs. More than food, shelter and safety. They say you are trying to befriend with him. Making him… rather comfortable."

Rainbow wanted to say he has been miserable but the prince determined look suggested otherwise.

"I'm just-t doing my duty as the appointed caretaker. Trying to be more sensitive to his needs." She flashed.

"Sensitive." His wrinkled his muzzle. "In anyhow, I shall repeat to you that Prince Turtle had been sentence to 'Isolation' punishment. Though all the princes must adhere orders of carrying out the punishment, the servants and all other dragons in the Deep Palace are encouraged to join the cause. While the servants are still expected to provide the needs of the prince. It is best they do it with as little interaction as possible."

"That's including you." He finished.

She wouldn't sure if his talon was purposefully toying the narwhals horns on the necklace or just fidgeting. Flicking one horn up and down, from left to right. She wondered if she had missed that necklace when Prince Hammerhead made first made his announcement.

The necklace though may not worth as much as a couple pieces of jewellery. It did, however, signified the power he held around here.

Rainbow gave him no response. In fact, she was trying to keep her expression as emotionless as she can. Hoping to hide the defiance in her.

"Very well. See that you understood that clearly. I shall take my leave. Father is expecting me for preparation on another battle."

"Prince Hammerhead." Her curiosity bested her. "What is the 'Talon of Power' ceremony?"

"Talons of power?" the prince flashed. "Yes. The day has come, hasn't it? Still, I would never have understood why everyone was so fixate about it. Hundreds of years has passed and nothing have come out of it. At this point, it just a mere shell of what it supposes to meant." He continued. "Mother hadn't learnt that miracle aren't free. Miracle only happened because dragons made them so. Life isn't a story which one write as she pleases."

He shook his head in annoyance but still keeping one eye on her.

"However, I believe it doesn't have any of the concern of you, doesn't it?" he flashed. "Best if you kept your distance with my little brother. His punishment is important for his growth as a prince of the SeaWing kingdom."

Prince Hammerhead might have noticed her unconvinced look because he added.

"Think of it as a lesson that he needed to learn. Younger he learns of them, the better he would be. It's for his own good."

With a flick of a talon, the prince disappeared down the hallway. Leaving Rainbow pondering the unanswered question.

Author note: After two months, finally a new chapter is published. But nope, two months of dry spells is not hiatus. In fact, I was writing the rest of the story. Due to the nature of the story, I feel more confident if i wrote ahead of time for a few critical chapters. And now I can finally say those are done and the rest is writing the transitions and editing.